Customer Reviews

Stanley Greene: Black Passport

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"Black Passport" is a multi-layered diary and sometimes dark confessional from one of the

great photojournalists of our time. Covering most of Stanley Greene's career, including

major visual essays, important moments in history and turning points in his life, the book

takes you on extremely personal journey of suffering, pathos, art, desire, love and peace

within and beyond the horrors of War. While Mr. Greene's book has its glamorous moments,

it tells you up-front not to get involved in War photography unless you are ready to suffer

(and very possibly die) from the physical, mental and emotional side-effects.

In person, Mr. Greene is humorous, serious, warm and sincere. I met him at the Annenberg Space

for Photography in Los Angeles in July of 2010. Another interesting (and wonderful) aspect of

"Black Passport" is that 99-100% of the images were shot on film, with Mr. Greene using

the Leica M series of Rangefinders. Only within the last few years, during Hurricane Katrina

and Haiti (not in the book), has he embraced digital. For those interested in photojournalism

and documentary works, this book is a must-have.

I sometimes thought, while reading the book, that Mr. Greene overemphasized his own suffering;

but his complete honesty actually made the book more visceral. No punches are pulled. The text

is written from interviews, like a motion picture voice-over.

This book is truly a passport to another world that the shallow dare not enter. But for those who

decide to visit, you will stay, absorb, and wonder. Be warned, too, that the images are not so

much bloody or violent; it is the tone and the atmosphere of the book itself that will grab you

by the neck and make you look at the world with new eyes. I hope that Mr. Greene has reached some

level of peace from his career; in "Black Passport", we are fortunate to be able to share the journey

with him.